Cambodian opposition leader faces prosecution in regime crackdown

Fears that Cambodia - a planned final destination for asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru - is sliding into dictatorship have been heightened after MPs voted today to prosecute the country's opposition leader.

Cambodia's parliament voted to proceed with treason charges against Kem Sokha today following his arrest earlier this month, reports Reuters.

The decision has been criticised by Western countries and have been dismissed by his supporters as nonsense.

It's the latest episode in an escalating crackdown on critics of Prime Minister Hun Sen ahead of an election next year in which he could face the toughest electoral challenge of more than 30 years in power.

Australia signed a $55 million refugee deal with Cambodia to take asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru.

Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen. AFP. ()

So far only a small number of refugees have arrived in the South East Asian country and the Turnbull government has attempted to convince asylum seekers and critics of the policy that Cambodia is a democratic country rather than a brutal dictatorship.

But the recent crackdown on opposition figures, media outlets and regime critics have made that harder.

In recent weeks, Hun Sen has expelled the National Democratic Institute, a non-governmental organisation that promotes democracy, and ordered 19 radio stations off the airThe independent English-language Cambodia Daily shut last week after being given a month to pay a $6.3 million tax demand.

Japan Relief for Cambodia and World Relief for Cambodia, aid groups financed by the paper’s publisher, said their accounts had been frozen and they would have to suspend building schools and teaching English and computing to thousands of students.

Cambodian protestorTep Vanny who was tried at the Supreme Court for demonstrating against the government. AFP. ()

Hun Sen has also ramped up his rhetoric against Western countries, accusing them of plotting his downfall.

The evidence presented against Kem Sokha so far is a video recorded in 2013 in which he discusses a strategy to win power with the help of unspecified Americans. His lawyers have dismissed the evidence as nonsense and said he was only discussing election strategy.

Hun Sen has also threated to us the army, partly trained by Australian military instructors, against opposition protesters.

He has also been building closer links with China as he turns his back on Western nations.

Earlier this year, the Cambodian government cancelled joint military exercises with Australia.